Swirls and Twirls: Krabi August 2009

I really have a lot of blog entries pending.

I've yet to blog about Bandung, My Various Hairstyles and the Soft-Launch of Katyna! Will blog more after Krabi...

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Krabi, August 2009
Spent my 25th birthday in Krabi, Thailand.

Masked. Boy, I dislike wearing the masks. They were hot and made my makeup run! Also, totally boring and surgical looking. Why don't we have cute masks? Tempted to draw a smiley on mine.

Off to Krabi!

The weather when we landed was gloomy with a slight drizzle. Just my luck! I wanted a vacay so badly that I forgot to check the weather in Krabi.

We took a cab from the Krabi International Airport to our boutique hotel in Ao Nang, Krabi. The cab fare cost us 600THB and it was about a 30 minute drive.

The kick-ass resort we bunked it was Red Ginger Chic and I know the name does not sound impressive. In fact, it makes you go... wtf! But it was such a pleasant surprise that I wouldn't mind returning again or recommending to friends. Of course, during off peak it was rather affordably priced at 1800THB, but during peak season, expect to fork out 4000THB.

Anyway, here are pictures of the room:

Love the red decor and the Oriental-contemporary mix.

They even provide guests with a torchlight, so you can scare people you meet at night. Well, actually it is so you can see your way back from Ao Nang town at night. The town or rather entertainment/eating strip is some 10 - 15 minutes walk from Red Ginger Chic.

It was around midday when we arrived, so we freshened up and headed out to explore the Ao Nang.

Tuk-tuks are such a bloody con job, but heck it.. I'm on holiday and reserve the right to be lazy! 40THB from hotel to town.

Ao Nang town is about 30 minutes from Krabi town. By cab it would cost about 500THB for a 30-minute ride to get there, but for a fraction of the price (50THB) you may also opt for a mini-bus at various bus stops along Ao Nang town.

There's the night market during weekends in Krabi town, which apparently is worth a visit but since we've been to the MOTHER of all markets - Chatuchak several times, it was decided that we skip this one.

However, let me warn you if you are looking for Thai food in Ao Nang, you have to look super hard! This town caters to the white taste buds and you would be more likely to find pizza instead of phad thai on the menu. I am told that Krabi town has more authentic Thai grub.

I lost track of the amount of beers that Vic bought. Apparently very cheap... 50THB?

Pork Pau in 7-11! Well.. at least I think it looks like pork.

After walking around aimlessly and enquiring at several travel agencies for day tours, we decided it was MASSAGE TIME! Some of the massage centres looked pretty sleazy and unclean, so we opted for one at a hotel. I can't remember the name now, its opposite the Andaman Massage shop (which is not bad).

Massive regret, the massage outlet run by the hotel was below standard. One of the worst massages ever! We initially wanted 2-hours of sheer Thai massage bliss, but it was so bad that Vic had to fake gastric pains and we bailed out at 1-hour!

I took a picture of their trash bin in the loo. It is supposed to be automatic, but of course... IT WASN'T!

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Dinner at Bernies Place - Buffet BBQ for 250THB

THE FOOD SUCKED!!!
If you are like absolutely hungry and don't care about taste and texture, then please come here. But if you are normal, I don't recommend eating here.

Although they were extremely generous with the tequila in my margarita. Hic!

Ao Nang Starlight Travel Agency, where we paid 900THB per person for the James Bond Island day tour and 850THB for Phi Phi Island. Mind you, that these are the off peak prices - at year-end when the town is packed - the rates can go up to 1500THB!

After surveying around we found out that this travel agency is the cheapest and the largest in Ao Nang town. They have three or four shops in the town stretch and this particular one that we went to is at the corner of the McDees row and the Burger King row.